Tennessee bill to increase raising minimum wage to $12 an hour dies in committee

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — A Tennessee bill to increase the minimum wage to $12 an hour is dead for the year.

The Tennessee Senate Commerce and Labor Committee considered a bill that would've raised the state's minimum wage to $12 an hour over the next four years.

It would've increased the minimum wage each year, reaching $12 an hour by 2025. Here's a look at the breakdown by year:

• On and after January 1, 2022, $9.25 an hour;
• On and after January 1, 2023, $10.00 an hour;
• On and after January 1, 2024, $11.00 an hour; and
• On and after January 1, 2025, $12.00 an hour.

Despite a passionate speech from the bill's sponsor – it was shot down.

"Working families are struggling, members, you know that, you've heard from them, many of them are on the brink of collapse or have collapsed,” Sen. Sara Kyle (D-Memphis) said. “We're long past due to raise the minimum wage."

The bill failed over a lack of a second motion.

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